Jack and the Beanstalk: 1. What shall we do?
Jack lives in a small village with his Ma. They are very poor and hungry but when they look in the kitchen cupboards they can only find mouldy cheese, a rotten apple core and a pair of smelly socks. They must do something - but what?
Episode 1 of the story
Jack lives in a small village with his Ma. It's a beautiful sunny day and Jack is having a wonderful daydream, full of tasty things to eat. But when he wakes reality is very different. His Ma calls him in for supper...and Jack's tummy is rumbling...but when they look in the cupboards for something to eat all they find is a piece of mouldy cheese, a rotten apple core and a pair of smelly old socks. There's is nothing for them to eat and they have no money left because they have already sold all their furniture and other possessions. If they don't do something soon they'll starve. But what..?
Story questions - episode 1
What is Jack daydreaming about at the start?
Tasty things to eat - freshly baked bread, yellow cheeses, juicy apples and pears, creamy cakes and ginger biscuits
Why does Jack wake up?
Hi Ma calls him - it's time for supper
What three things are in the kitchen cupboards?
A mouldy piece of cheese...a rotten apple core...a smelly pair of socks
What is the cottage like inside where Jack and his Ma live?
It's completely bare as they have been forced to sell everything they own to get money for food - so there are no chairs or tables, just the cupboards left in the kitchen
Episode 2 of the story
Ma looks at the empty kitchen cupboards and bursts into tears. Jack tries to cheer her up by saying that at least they still have some milk to drink - from their cow, Daisy. Jack milks Daisy every day but recently she has been producing a little less milk each time...and on this occasion she is only able to produce two tiny drops. Jack is forced to accept that Daisy's milking days are over. Ma decides there is only one thing to do: they must sell Daisy to get some money for food and Jack will have to take her to market the following day. Poor Jack...Daisy is his only friend.
Story questions - episode 2
How does Jack try to cheer up his Ma?
He tells her that at least they still have milk to drink
What is the name of Jack's cow?
Daisy
How much milk is Daisy able to produce?
Just two tiny drops - Daisy's milking days are over
What does Ma decide they must do with Daisy?
She decides they must sell Daisy - and Jack will have to take her to the market in the morning
The song: 'What shall we do?' (vocal)
Talk about the tempo of the song. (It’s fast!) There are lots of short, quick notes - but there are some longer notes too. Help the children to spot them.
Notice how Verse 1 has the same rhythm as Verse 2. Clap the rhythm of these two verses.
Ensure the children are ready to come in quickly in their groups for the call and response sections.
Click here for the backing track video.
Literacy links
| Year | Activity |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Ask the children to think of more things in the cupboard that no one would want to eat - eg a squashed banana. Divide a piece of paper into three sections to make the cupboard shelves and draw and label the items. |
| Year 2 | Jack and his Ma have been busy selling household objects. Discuss what they’ve had to sell and write a list. Design a ‘For sale’ poster for the items - eg for Daisy: 'Cow for sale! Very friendly! Doesn't give much milk!' |
Listening music
3rd Movement from Flute Concerto in D Minor by CPE Bach
Can the children identify the solo instrument? (A flute). The instruments in the orchestra are string instruments - violins, violas, cellos and double basses.
Tempo: Is the music fast or slow? (It’s fast with many quick notes). Are the notes long and smooth or short and jumpy? (They are short and jumpy!)
Other KS1 Music series
Resources
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Teacher's Notes
Guidance on all the content (pdf)
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Lyrics - What shall we do?
Download / print the lyrics (pdf)
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Music - What shall we do?
Download / print the music (pdf)
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Vocal warm-up
Vocal warm-up (audio)
